VPN Plus+ ExclusiveAntimicrobial stewardship: What it is and why it mattersAugust 4, 2020By Brennen McKenzie, MA, MSc, VMD, cVMAAntimicrobials have tremendous therapeutic benefits in human and veterinary patients. After vaccination, antibiotics are probably the most important medical intervention of the 20th century in terms of reducing suffering and death. Of course, antimicrobials can also have significant adverse effects. And any use of antimicrobials, including appropriate therapeutic use, creates a selection pressure that can result in emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) or an increase in the abundance of resistant bacteria. Adverse effects and the development of resistance reduce the potential benefits of antibiotics. Antimicrobial stewardship is the concept of using antibiotics in a manner that maximizes their benefits, minimizes risks, and conserves the effectiveness of these important drugs.1 Changing when and how we use antibiotics is the key to achieving these goals. Antimicrobial stewardship involves three general strategies: 1) Preventing infectious disease occurrence 2) Reducing overall antimicrobial use 3) Using antimicrobials in ways that maximize the benefits, minimize the adverse effects, and reduce the development of antibiotic resistance Preventing infections Preventing bacterial infections automatically reduces the need for, and hence the use of, antimicrobials. This involves encouraging clients to provide appropriate husbandry and preventive care, including vaccination, proper nutrition, isolation of sick animals, and other prophylactic measures. Prevention of …
Education, observation key to conquering skin allergiesJuly 30, 2020For veterinarians who are keen to talk to clients about skin allergies, now’s the time to scratch that itch.
Shelter dogs find celeb advocateJuly 29, 2020Charles Melton, star of TV’s Riverdale, has partnered with Purina One on a new campaign aimed at promoting and encouraging shelter adoptions.
Food for thought: Dietary considerations in feline lower urinary tract diseasesJuly 29, 2020When presented with a cat with clinical signs consistent with lower urinary tract disease, it is important to gain an accurate history, then think about the animal's diet.
Canine congestive heart failure chews OKedJuly 28, 2020The chews, which contain spironolactone and benazepril hydrochloride, have been approved for use with other medications (e.g. diuretics) for the management of the clinical signs of mild, moderate, or severe congestive heart failure in dogs due to atrioventricular valvular insufficiency (AVVI).
Is glucosamine effective for treating osteoarthritis?July 27, 2020As trained members of a scientific profession, it is best to understand why anecdotal evidence supporting the use of glucosamine is not a sufficient justification for recommending or selling it to client.
Test your knowledge with the August Brain Teaser!July 27, 2020Can you solve this puzzle? Test your veterinary knowledge with the August Brain Teaser!
Easing anxiety top-ranking task for PTSD service dogsJuly 23, 2020Disrupting episodes of anxiety might be the most incredible gift a service dog can give to a handler diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveBright ideas in veterinary ophthalmologyJuly 23, 2020The field of veterinary ophthalmology is always evolving, uncovering new theories, diagnostics, treatments, and surgeries. The Vision for Animals Foundation (VAF) is funding various ophthalmology studies, including one led by University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center resident Kayla Banks, DVM, that is comparing cleaning and sterilization protocols for diamond burr tips used in diamond burr debridement for canine superficial chronic corneal epithelial defects. Another study, led by Maggie Jinks, DVM, a resident at the Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, is looking at the role of extrinsic forces on lens cell mitosis. Lionel Sebbag, DVM, DACVO, assistant professor of veterinary clinical sciences at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, says there are continued efforts in the veterinary ophthalmology community to find new diagnostic tools and therapies to improve patient comfort and vision. "For instance, there are task forces working on glaucoma and sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS), two devastating diseases resulting in vision loss," he says. "Further, the recent advances in genetics are exciting, and it is only a matter of time before they fully benefit veterinary patients. "A better understanding of genetics will help reduce the prevalence of serious inherited ocular diseases, such as progressive retinal …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveImproving the outlook for brain tumor patientsJuly 21, 2020The path to discover and perfect new cancer treatments is long and expensive. It can take more than a decade and cost over $2 billion to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of a new therapeutic before it reaches the marketplace. To expedite the process, researchers are thinking outside the box—or rather, outside their own species. The concept of comparative medicine (i.e. One Medicine) has great potential to accelerate the development of new cancer treatments. By examining the similarities and differences in biology among different species (e.g. dogs and humans), we gain increased understanding of the mechanisms of disease in each. This comparative medicine model, as demonstrated in the field of neuro-oncology by the Comparative Brain Tumor Consortium (CBTC), has already shown promising results. Launched by the Comparative Oncology Program (COP) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in 2015, CBTC comprises veterinarians, physicians, and basic researchers who have joined forces to improve outcomes for dogs and humans affected by brain cancer by using more predictive and accurate preclinical models. Laboratory animal models don't always adequately mimic the complex genetic, biologic, and environmental conditions of the human experience. Dogs get many of the same spontaneous cancers as humans, and their genome is …
